Director: Ulziibuyan Tserendendev
Year: 2018
Country: Mongolia
Alternate Titles: N/A
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Plot:
Growing up in an orphanage, two boys and a young girl develop a strong bond with each other that fully cements itself once they escape from the clutches of a serial killer that was prowling the neighborhood. Now adults, the three have gone their separate ways with one now involved with the mafia and them happily married with a daughter although they're lives are about to intersect again when she also becomes the target of a perverted serial killer. Using his skill-set to free her, the inability to have them killed off brings them together again into a deadly race to solve the mystery of the past in order to get away from their situation alive.
Review:
Overall, this was quite an enjoyable effort. One of the strongest elements present is the story which offers a somewhat enjoyable main idea. Exploring the idea of the vagrant, homeless children that are running wild in the streets that initially sparks the policeman's interests in the savage serial killer stalking the city is a novel idea of bringing about their connection. Intersecting the two storylines as the idea of the killer meeting up with their lives on the street and how the kids are forced to grow up through their connection together offers a fine counterbalance to the emotional setup of their predicament. When the flashback to their childhood encounter with the thugs that has bonded them together, there's a fine realization that occurs which causes the story to make sense and brings the thriller elements into greater focus.
As well as the fine work in the screenplay, there's also a lot to like with the idea of those thriller elements. What we're shown of the main killer in here, ranging from the perverted nature he displays towards his targets to the abduction and torment he inflicts on his captives while in his possession, leaves a suitably nasty impression. With the added quirk of accompanying classic music to the sequences, this one offers a wholly engaging series of tactics to still present a monstrous persona to the local audience while still employing enough commonly-associated elements to allow foreign viewers to get the point. With the idea of meeting up with the killer as adults is brought up, the film adds some extra life to these sequences as the emotional turmoil required to save his daughter while he races to clear his name starts this off on a wild, over-the-top finale.
The final half hour kicks into high-gear as the tone switches from gritty suspense/thriller to wild action film. Once he realizes that his friend is still on his side and not everything was as it seemed, they're able to reunite their friendship in an truly outstanding action sequence that offers plenty to like. Engaging plenty of stunt-work which shows various performers falling down scaffolding, climbing over walls and even mixing in some martial arts techniques in an extended confrontation in the abandoned factory. As the performers look credible performing such feats and the action intensifies in their quest to escape which is tied to the emotional turmoil of the finale incredibly well, this sequence emerges as the film's highlight and really holds this up overall.
There are some problems throughout the film. The biggest issue here is the fact that the disjointed narrative manages to make a twisting and confusing storyline all the more troubling. This is done by never making sure to remind viewers of what's going on for large periods of time, dropping through various time-periods and flashbacks that are never identified or differentiated so that it's easy to tell where we are in the timeline. Having to backtrack and realize the purpose of a scene minutes afterward is a dangerous proposition as that can cause the audience to potentially miss what's going on, a facet that creeps into the film in the finale. This is where all the different flashbacks to explain the grand motivation makes this drag on for far longer than necessary by offering new elements and payoffs to what we've already known. This is the main factor that really holds it back.
Overview: ***/5
With an engrossing if somewhat scattershot mystery, some thrilling action and a generally overall fun time, this one offers up a rather enjoyable experience overall. Give this a chance if you're a fan of these kinds of disorienting revenge/thrillers or looking to expand your viewing habits to the country's efforts, while those not interesting in the style should heed caution.
War Trailer from Mongol Films Distribution on Vimeo.
This review was originally published on Asian Movie Pulse and is gratefully reprinted with their cooperation.
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